Explore Boise by bike

This city is made for cyclists, with its leafy streets, wildflower-lined trails, and cool high-desert air

Ride along the river

Stretching 29.7 miles along the beautiful Boise River waterfront, the Boise River Greenbelt offers pretty, mellow riding suitable for all setups. Challenge the kids to a trainingwheels trip to Lucky 13 ($; 3662 S. Eckert Rd., 6 flat miles from downtown; 208/344-6967) for pizza on the patio, or cruise about 5.5 miles farther to Lucky Peak Reservoir (cityofboise.org/parks)―and beyond, if you’re up for a climb.

Pull over for a play Tucked into a nature preserve just off the Greenbelt bike path, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s Elizabethan-style amphitheater is one of Boise’s cultural icons. This month, enjoy The Comedy of Errors or The Seagull before biking back as the sun goes down. Tickets from $18; 5657 Warm Springs Ave.; idahoshakespeare.org

Find your wheels

Skip the hassle of bike transport and trust the techs at Idaho Mountain Touring to fix you up. The shop’s revamped rental section has more bikes than ever, from cruisers to high-end mountain- and roadbike options. Rentals from $12 for 4 hours; 1310 W. Main St.; idahomountaintouring.com

Kick off with caffeine

Start the day in Boise’s lively Linen District, where Big City Coffee serves big breakfasts and killer caffeine. Try the beef tamale, served with eggs fluffed with the espresso machine’s steam wand, and grab a massive Sunrise muffin to stuff in your bike jersey. $; 1416 W. Grove St.; bigcitycoffeeld.com

Take it home

Long before PowerBar, there was Idaho Spud Bar, a calorie-packed, potatoshaped mound of chocolate marshmallow coated with dark chocolate and dusted with coconut, first made by the Idaho Candy Company nearly a century ago. After a long ride, you’ve earned it. Pick ’em up at Boise grocers, or order at idahospud.com